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Mackenzie Health welcomes permanent MRI scanner
5-ton machine loaded into back of hospital

YorkRegion.com
Aug. 22, 2014
By Marney Beck

 Set to replace the temporary MRI trailer sitting in the parking lot, a second and more powerful magnetic resonance imaging scanner arrived by crane at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital this morning.

Every week, hundreds of people from southwest York Region come to Mackenzie Health for an MRI scan - increasingly used to detect and diagnose many diseases and conditions. To keep up with the significant growth in the community and resulting demand for MRI scans, Mackenzie Health Foundation launched the $5 million Picture This campaign in March of 2012 to raise the necessary funds to bring a second and more powerful MRI scanner to Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital.

After almost a year and a half of fundraising and preparations, Mackenzie Health staff and Mackenzie Health Foundation representatives were excited to witness the MRI scanner’s arrival today.

A large crane hoisted the 5-ton (25,000 pound) magnet and cage into the back loading dock area of the hospital, to be transported to the hospital’s medical imaging department.

“Donors are here watching,” said Melina Cormier, of Mackenzie Health communications, describing the exciting installation operation taking place.

“The new 3 Tesla MRI scanner is one of the most sophisticated pieces of medical equipment that exists today,” said Bruce Langstaff, co-chairperson of the hospital foundation’s Picture This campaign. “A single MRI scan can not only change a life, it can save a life.”

Ingrid Perry, president and CEO of the foundation, gave credit to the community for its “tremendous support by helping raise $4.4 million” of the $5M goal for the new equipment.

The new MRI scanner will help ensure patients continue to receive timely access to state-of-the-art medical imaging and enhance the patient experience.

Construction on the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital is scheduled to begin in 2015. The hospital will be completed and operational in 2019.

For more on the Picture This campaign, visit the website http://mhf.akaraisin.com or mackenziehealth.ca.